Israel reportedly warned Syria in February that it would hold it accountable
for Hizbullah attacks

Israel recently conveyed a warning to Syria through a third party that
it would hold Damascus accountable if Hizbullah launched attacks on the
Jewish state, Israeli and European sources said on Friday.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the warning stemmed
largely from Israeli concerns that Hizbullah would launch salvoes of cross-border
rockets to coincide with any major Israeli offensive in the Hamas-controlled
Gaza Strip.

The sources said the message was conveyed in February through at least
one European intermediary following the assassination of a top Hizbullah
commander and before this month’s five-day Israeli offensive in the
Gaza Strip.

After the group’s senior commander, Imad Mugniyah, was killed in
a bombing in Damascus, Hizbullah leader Nasrallah threatened Israel with “open
war.”

“This is sound strategy”

A European source familiar with the matter noted that the message conveyed
to Damascus said Syria could be targeted by Israel even if Hizbullah’s
attack emanated from Lebanese soil.

An Israeli source with knowledge of government affairs said: “The
message was passed around late February, before the last round of fighting
in Gaza.”

“It has become clear to us Syria has to understand there is a price
for its use of proxy terrorism, especially as Damascus is itself a proxy
- the long-arm of Iran,” the source said.

Another senior Israeli government official with knowledge of defence
affairs declined comment on whether a message was sent to Damascus, but
told Reuters: “This is sound strategy. Syria has significantly deepened
its involvement with Hizbullah in southern Lebanon since the war.”

Asked about the risk of an Israeli attack on Syria in response to a Hizbullah
attack, a British official said: “There is always a danger that a
turn of events here could prompt something on the northern border, which
would be a disaster.” †